Any possibility this is legit?

[grampajack]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B01LZM8JSG/ref=dp_olp_0?ie=UTF8&condition=all

These are normally 2500 dollar scopes. I contacted the guy, and he claims they're the real deal and brand new in the box, still sealed with the warranty card. I've never heard of there being Valdada knockoffs before and was wondering if anyone else had.

ETA: I've not really used Amazon much. Is it like Ebay where there's buyer protection, or can scammers really get away with this kind of thing there?

 

[rbernie]

Amazon is both a distribution channel and an e-commerce channel. That means that they can be an unknowing channel for counterfeit or otherwise shady products. They try to weed it out when they find it, but they can't find all of the instances in advance where a counterfeit product is being offered.

In this case, several red flags:

Bränd nëw itëm! Cöntäct us priör tö ördëring~WALTTERY80 "at" Gmäil .COM~ !**

and

Michelle62Ryan
Michelle62Ryan storefront
Just launchedNo feedback yet

That doesn't mean that it's a scam, but I'd be very wary.

 

[grampajack]

Amazon is both a distribution channel and an e-commerce channel. That means that they can be an unknowing channel for counterfeit or otherwise shady products. They try to weed it out when they find it, but they can't find all of the instances in advance where a counterfeit product is being offered.

In this case, several red flags:


and


That doesn't mean that it's a scam, but I'd be very wary.

Absolutely. But I can't find any evidence that Valdada optics are counterfeited, though, so if it's a scam I think they've gotta be coming from a different angle. Valdada also doesn't appear to sell factory seconds or refurbished scopes. The only thing that seems likely at this point is paying them and just not getting the scope, but doesn't Amazon handle the actual transaction, like as a middleman? Everything I've bought from them has come from their warehouse and they then distribute the money to the seller.

 

[Mizar]

Why don't you contact IOR from here: http://www.ior.ro/Contact/ and ask them if http://darnfineshot.com/info.html is their dealer in the US as he claims to be?

Sorry, I had a brain fart - you were asking about a different seller on Amazon.

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

Everything I've bought from them has come from their warehouse and they then distribute the money to the seller.

Not everything comes from the Amazon warehouses and Amazon sometimes has little to zero interest in shutting down vendors reselling... well... less than reputable goods. in the past I made money on the side by buying up auction lots of new DVDs from video stores that went under. I would resell them on Amazon. I would report vendors selling bootleg copies of the movies I was selling. Amazon almost never did anything. Check the vendor rating, it's the only semi reliable standard if it doesn't say Sold By Amazon.

 

[rbernie]

The only thing that seems likely at this point is paying them and just not getting the scope,

It could be counterfeit, it could be a factory second / reject, it could be merchandise that 'fell off a truck', it could be gray market product that bypassed the domestic importer, or it could be the best deal EVAR.

My money is not on the latter - nobody sells optics for less than 25% of retail value. I suspect grey market, which means you get a real honest IOR Valdada optic but you lose all post-sale warranty support.

(FWIW - that used to be very common in the camera optics field; a Nikkor lens for the Asian market would sell for half the cost of a 'US market' lens and consequently grey market 'importers' were pretty common. But, as I mentioned above, the low price of the grey market import came at a cost, if you forgive the pun - the inability to get post-sale support / repair for the lens because of its grey market nature.)

 

[Sebastian the Ibis]

A brand new seller (and reviewer) with no physical address, who can't decide if she is from Germany or Illinois. I wouldn't buy a bridge from this guy.

 

[AZAndy]

The needless umlauts over most of the vowels is a sure sign something is wrong.

 

[RPRNY]

If it seems too good to be true, it usually is.

 

[Hanzo581]

I wouldn't trust it.

 

[grampajack]

I think it's a scam to get your personal info. What's really messed up is that Amazon doesn't have any way to report a seller. If it were gray market I would jump all over it, but something tells me they cost more to make than what this person is claiming to sell them for. I don't think there's an actual product at all, counterfeit or otherwise. So I guess beware of people selling scopes on Amazon...or just beware of Amazon period.

 

[1stmarine]

If it looks too good to be true is probably not true. These outlets have to deal with this type of practices every day. They normally have zero feedback or just opened although they might open accounts ahead of time to do some ok transactions to build some feedback before striking later.
IMO skip the shady business and move on.
Look at the weaver tactical series with ffp. Great deals at natchezs and they do track to the T.

 

[cdb1]

I'd run from that deal.

 

[JeffG]

One customer review, and it's anonymous. I'd steer clear.

 

[Mauser lover]

Just a note that it doesn't seem like anyone else pointed out already...

They want you to contact them through a non-amazon email account. That isn't good. Generally you should contact a seller through the "contact seller" link that Amazon gives.

I think that there usually is some sort of buyer security through Amazon, although I have never had to use it so I don't know how good it really is, or what they actually cover, or if that is only on stuff sold by Amazon.

 

[hdwhit]

Mauser lover wrote:
I think that there usually is some sort of buyer security through Amazon, although I have never had to use it so I don't know how good it really is, or what they actually cover, or if that is only on stuff sold by Amazon.

Amazon 's buyer protection does apply only to transactions processed through Amazon, but they do stand behind their listings even when the seller won't. My son bought a set of high-end headphones that failed almost as soon as they arrived. The seller wouldn't even respond to inquiries made through their contact the seller facility. Amazon stepped in and offered us a replacement or a refund.

 

[GRIZ22]

Keep in mind if these are even the real deal they might be a copyright violation. If so, you lose your money if they haven't filled your order and if they've already sent it to you it can be seized. The first option is for sure, the second not so likely but possible.

 

[chicharrones]

Just a note that it doesn't seem like anyone else pointed out already...

They want you to contact them through a non-amazon email account. That isn't good. Generally you should contact a seller through the "contact seller" link that Amazon gives.

Exactly, and the email address is written out in a way that the Amazon software couldn't prevent the seller from putting the email address in the listing.

It's a somewhat clever work around that should be reported to Amazon.

 

[amflyer]

Listing as per link you provided has the item as "Used-Like New" Not sure if that has changed.

 

[Gordon]

pulled from Amazon

 

[Grayrock]

It is now listed thru a seller named "Misty Demanett"

 

[grampajack]

Again, I'm pretty sure it's a scam to get personal information. If you actually tried to purchase anything from these people I imagine you would get an email saying it's out of stock or something. I don't think they have any actual products.

Again, though, this is definitely something people should be aware of. I thought Amazon was legit, but apparently it's the wild west when it comes to scams. These people are probably out to steel your identity or something equally nefarious. And what's really messed up is that there was no apparent way to report it to Amazon as a scam, so apparently they don't really care what's going on.

 

[imashooter]

I went through the same bs with a vortex razor hd gen ii 1-6x24 listed for less than half the going price (brand new) on amazon October 2016. I inquired and long story short; Three different sellers with exact verbiage and one common email contact / location in Texas. I contacted amazon security with all info and never looked back. One of those deals where they weren't allowed to sell as new though "it's new in original packaging" ........

 

[v35]

It is now being sold under the name "peter cooper". Brand new seller, of course.

Yes Amazon provides 100% buyer protection even for its "Amazon Marketplace" buyers, but I believe there is a 0% chance you will ever receive that scope for that money from that seller.

Of course Amazon will refund your money, no questions asked, but there are red flags all over that listing. Amazon has zero tolerance for disreputable sellers and I predict that one won't be around for long. I also predict that if you proceed with that purchase, you will be inconvenienced, at best.